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It's now official. One less A-10 unit out there. The 103rd FS, 111th FW had their final flight ceremony yesterday. Very very bittersweet. I've been fortunate to really be around the last several weeks, and when it comes down to it, all these men and women are top class acts. And it's just very depressing to see in a sense all of their hard work and effort in doing a top notch job go down the drain so to speak. 86 years of flight operations now officially closed. I know this is going on with other units and will continue to happen, but it just seems like these guys got screwed royally....as they don't even have their new mission yet! WTF?? Some of them still don't know what they are doing, others have been forced to make tough choices to move, retire, etc. Anyways...enough of the rant, sorry. Here's a few photos; as I'm going through everything this week I'll be updating on my website, and probably put up a little bit here if you guys don't mind. I did a few videos for the 103rd's little dinner party they had, I hope I can put those up too.



Final official flight takeoff






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Congratulations on a mission well done.

Thanks for the news and pictures.

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73-1664

Thanks for posting those great pictures,lets hope it turns out okay for the guys and gals of the unit.
Its sad to see a great Hog unit wind down, I have a nice litho of one of the 111th FW 103rd FS Hogs on my wall.

Thanks for posting those great pics and for the story. All my best to the men and women of the 130thFS and the 111th FW. Great work folks!

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

Unfortunately, this is the first of many more to come. As the F-15/16 fleet continues to age units are going to find slim pickings for replacement iron. Many are counting on a mass F-35 buy, something I'm not sure is going to happen, at least in the numbers needed.

I wish all the best to the men and women of the 111th.

OC

Thats all I got. Nothin else.

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YGBSM !

It is definitely sad to be around a unit that's winding down operations. One of the saddest jobs I had when England AFB closed, was launching some of our jets on their last flight, to the bone yard.

On a lighter note, the last jet I was DCC on, 80-0250, I sent to Willow Grove. This was back in '92, of course.

I seem to remember it was the wing commander who came and got the jet. Though it was a "naked jet" (no unit markings, etc.), and we had to take off our "confirmed kills" from Desert Storm, I gave the pilot the list of confirmed kills 0250 had.

Until I got the jet to replace 0248, it had the reputation of being a real pig. It was always broke. I remember when they sent it to us in Saudi, it had engine problems. Our guys were working an engine problem on it while listening to Sec. of State Howard Baker deliver "our final offer" to Teriq Aziz, Hussein's Foreign Minister.

When I was told after we got back that I was getting 0250, I was heart-broken. I thought: "Oh no! They've given me a real pig!"

Well, I need not have worried. I don't know what happened, but 0250 ended up being a decent jet. It was often a static display jet at various weekend air shows. And, it's FMC rate was always pretty good. I don't think it was anything I did. I was just fortunate, I guess, that whatever "gremlins" lived in 0250, left it when it came back from Saudi.

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-=> Carroll McAllister <=-

coming to you \"almost live\" from Searcy, Arkansas

That's it. Ramp is empty. Wow...didn't think this day would ever come. The last two Hogs took off today under a gloomy, cloudy sky. What's pretty cool is that the pilot of MADHOG 2, second jet, was the first pilot to bring an A-10 to the unit at Willow Grove. Fittingly, he was the last to leave in an A-10. Thanks and much congrats go out to all the men and women of the unit. Another fine wing closes it's book for good.

I talked with the pilot of MADHOG2 (214) during his stop at FWA on the way to Hill while we dropped his tanks and he told us there were a few tears and just about everyone from the base was on hand for their farewell. Sad to see another base close.

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SoWW #2485
Cave Putorium!

Yeah that was Spartacus, Lt Col Scot Hreso in MADHOG 2. Very cool guy. There was a lot of people that came out to see them leave...even though they had their 'Final Flight ceremony' already, this was truely the end. It was very emotional......and also very sad knowing we'll never see another A-10 with PA on the tail.

Weasel, you guys best of luck with those A-10s, you'll be getting those last 5 + 1 other one (at least that was the plan). BTW 658, which came through yesterday, had my favorite door art on it, don't know if you caught it or not, had an A-10 and P-47 on it. Very crude drawing, but definitley my fav. Wonder if it will still be on it when you guys get her.

Just a note about 658, the crew chiefs father was a WWII P-47 pilot and POW. Thats what the door art was meant to reflect.

Wow...pretty cool. I never heard the story on that one, just thought it was a tribute to the Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt II! Awesome.